Unable to select desktop icons

I have updated my Nvidea G2 Drivers via Microsoft Update.
When loaded the new drivers shows the cartoony WinXP My
Computer & Recycle bin icons which I hate. I can change
them back to win 98 se style via customise desktop>change
icon no problem but when I restart the pooter it reloads
the win xp icons and ignores my requested change to win 98
style icons. System restore fixes the problem but then my
video drivers are out of date. I have tried saving as a
new theme and compared all the settings I can find between
the new and old drivers but can find no reason why this is
happening. Anybody know how I can force the icons I want
and stop the restart restoring the XP versions?

TIA

Jonah